- One person is still missing after a factory explosion.
- Investigation and rescue work at the site was completed.
- 51 people receive treatment in hospitals.
The death toll has risen from 26 to 37 and one person is still missing after a fireworks factory explosion in southern China's Hunan province, the state news agency reported. Xinhua said on Friday, in the deadliest explosion recorded in China since 2019.
The explosion occurred around 4:40 p.m. (0840 GMT) on Monday in Liuyang, Hunan, known as China's fireworks capital because it manufactures 60% of the domestic supply of these devices and about 70% of exports.
Xinhua He said investigation and rescue work at the site has been completed and 51 people are being treated in hospitals.
An investigation has been launched into the incident and police have summoned eight people for questioning on suspicion of causing the deadly explosion, state media said.
The investigation is under the supervision of China's top prosecutors, while Hunan ordered the suspension of operations of all fireworks plants in the city for safety inspections.
In June, an explosion at a fireworks factory in Hunan killed nine people.
In 2019, a chemical plant explosion in eastern China's Jiangsu province left 78 dead.
